Najib defends Isa: Was he kidding in France?

Najib made a defense for Isa when questioned recently in France.  The Bernama report that was published in The Malaysia Insider (read here) gives us an amusing side of our beloved PM.

Najib said former Negri Sembilan Mentri Besar Isa, who was found guilty of breaching party rules, was punished for his offence while he also lost the mentri besar’s post and Umno vice-president’s post.

…….

“This (Isa’s offence) is only a technical matter in the party and he has already paid for his deeds,” said Najib when asked by a student on the decision to pick Isa for the Bagan Pinang by-election.

Isa was found guilty of money politics in the 2004 Umno election and was suspended for six years which eventually was reduced to three years (read here).  This is not a mere breach of party rules.  It is clearly an act of corruption.  It is not only [emphasis mine] a technical matter in the party.  If his action is a not acceptable within Umno, it is also not acceptable in the realm of Malaysian politics.  This is not a private affair within Umno.

Is money politics a small matter after all? 

Pak Lah’s Legacy? He doesn’t care?

This indeed so strange for a Prime Minister to say.  Pak Lah says he is not bothered with what people will think of him as the PM of Malaysia in the years to come.  Legacy is something everyone should be concerned about.  It is what the individual has done to make the world a better place.  What more a PM who has the power to make a lasting impact on Malaysia as a country.

Pak Lah made many election promises in 2004 which resulted him winning the most votes any PM had done so in the history of Malaysia.  During the four years, none of the reforms he promised which won him those votes materialized although they were much publicized for the wrong reasons like the Lingam scandal.  This year, 2008 March, four years later, Pak Lah again made history winning the least votes any PM had done so in the history of Malaysia.  Not only that, he also lost 5 states (Selangor, Perak, Penang, Kedah and Kelantan) and the KL Federal Territory.  That’s also the most territory a PM in Malaysia has lost, these being the most developed and richest states.

Is this the only legacy Pak Lah is leaving?  Winning the most votes and also the least votes in the history of Malaysia?

Malaysia Berjaya?

One of the oldest patriotic songs that brings back fond memories to many Malaysians is “Malaysia Berjaya“.

In a time where people like RPK and many others are now incarcerated in Camp Kamunting for years without trial to defend their “so called” misdeeds in the court of law, in a time when Pak Lah still aspires to reform the Judiciary even after four long years and the exit of Zaid Ibrahim, in a time when there is so much sadness for fellow Malaysians being removed from their families by the stroke of a pen of one man, we wonder if Malaysia has truly “berjaya” (trans. succeeded).

Here is that song…

Times of Grave Uncertainty

The world’s markets fluttered at the news of ailing giant companies floundering.  Malaysians are grappling how to manage with the 8.5% inflation rate, highest for a long time.  Pump prices remain high in a fuel net export country.

Who is doing what in Malaysia for Malaysians?

What will tomorrow be?

A peek into the future is what every Malaysian wants now. What are some of the things that can happen from hereon? What will our beloved country, Malaysia, become? Who will be taking our Malaysia forward? Will there be a storm brewing, or a hurricane for that matter? Is there going to be a silver lining? Can we see the sun coming up on Malaysia? Or the night is going to be long?

Pak Lah Moves Into Place

“He [Anwar] is a threat to our economy and maybe even our [national] security. I will not indicate to you what I plan to do, but what I will do, will be in the interest of the country.” (read MalaysianInsider here).

Last week, it was Tan Hoon Cheng, Teresa Kok and Raja Petra Kamaruddin a.k.a. RPK arrested under ISA for racial incitement.

This week? Is the ISA to be used to silence the PM’s and Government’s critics? Who determines a person to be a threat to national security? Who does the PM answer to in such times? It does not appear that the PM is answerable to the people of Malaysia as much as he is to Umno.

Pak Lah’s statement is a veiled threat to Anwar that he is not beyond his reach, that Anwar is not beyond the ISA dragnet.  Pak Lah to Anwar, your move now.

Countdown to September 16

UPDATED 16/09 @ 9:00 am

Yesterday night was electrifying. Today? More on D-DAY SEPTEMBER 16 here.

1 day to go – It was the eve of Malaysia Day. The mood was upbeat. The moment the National Anthem “Negara Ku” was sung, the atmosphere became electrifying. It was the Pakatan Rakyat celebration of Malaysia Day and filled with speeches from leaders of the PR. Notable was Lim Guan Eng, Kamaruddin Jaafar and Anwar.

It was anticipated as an historic event by the Opposition bloc and the turnout was exceptional. More than

The tens of thousands who went to hear Anwar waving the Malaysian flags

20,000 thronged the stadium peacefully to hear what Anwar has to say about “916“. Each of the PKR, DAP and PAS leaders that spoke referred to Anwar as the “PM in waiting“.

Kit Siang referred to it as a “sky changing” event. Guan Eng pointed out that never has a BN minister resigned not because he was ill or involved in a personal scandal but Zaid Ibrahim was applauded as one that has his principle to stand against the misuse of ISA. Furthermore, he chided those BN ministers who only dare whisper their dissent and challenged them to do what Zaid has done – QUIT, if it goes against their principles, don’t just talk!

Kamaruddin underscored the fact that September 16 will show much clarity on concrete steps of change, not necessary the very change of government itself. He alluded to the points that PR has what it takes to become the next government and Malaysians will learn more tomorrow.

More importantly was Anwar’s much awaited announcements. What does September 16 bring to Malaysians tomorrow?

Are we a free nation? A joint Merdeka day message

Independence means that the nation is free from any imposed political domination, citizens are sovereign and are masters of their own destiny. For that to be true, they must at least be able to think freely, express and exchange opinion, and, obtain and disseminate information without fear or favour.

As we celebrate the 51^st anniversary of our Merdeka tomorrow and the 45^th anniversary of Malaysia’s establishment in two weeks’ time, we should be celebrating our political adulthood. We should be proud that as citizens, we are a truly sovereign people, ruled by nothing more than the collective free will of our citizenship. We invite all Malaysians to ponder before lighting fireworks and joining the parade: Are we truly free? Are we truly sovereign?

Read the full message here.